Cobra Commander Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 13 minutes ago, JLowe said: I just saw the mention of lots of guys in Japan although on checking the WK18 card, Moxley and Danielson are on the card I'd guess the rest of the absences are the usual "guys who only show up on Collison" and "guys who show up on every other Dynamite" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggulator Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 This was an AEW show filled with high-end wrestling, some fun character work, some awful character work, random matchups and general stupidity. This was like a definitive AEW show. The Adam Cole stuff is so boring already. Hard pass. The lamest part was Cole saying Wardlaw would eventually surrender the belt to him — it’s just duplicating what Christian just did and looks bad non-kayfabe and even worse kayfabe since The Devil is just taking someone else’s idea already. I like The Acclaimed getting back in the mix and Jay White as the rogue is a good twist but man do we really need another Gunn Family Reunion thing? OC/Martin ruled. Just another for the OC Hall of Fame reel. OC is just a genius at laying out matches and knowing how to tell a complete and simple story. This has a fun twist of Martin frustrating Orange. I loved the end with the trademark OC having one more chess move to clock Martin with the punch. I also loved OC messing with the “running around the ring” bulldozer trope with his hands in his pockets. The post-match shenanigans with that were baffling. I’m all for Private Party making a big re-introduction but they did so while everyone else looked like idiots standing by and watching. No threats to anyone in the ring. Just weirdness. Toni Storm stole the show once again with a great insane promo talking up Aldi’s and Broadway. Mariah May’s first match was perfectly fine in-ring. The presentation was awful. If you’re doing an understudy to an Olde Hollywood icon gimmick, coming out to crappy stock techno music while wearing an outfit best described as “The Bellas but trashier” isn’t what you want to do. I have little familiarity with The Vitruosa but that was solid enough on her end. Darby/Takeshita was a fun match with a pairing I was not expecting to see but now I want to see again. It’s always fun to see Darby risk paralysis. The rolling German spot was really nice. The four way was also a good pairing of four random names who did random stuff. I was pulling for Trent to win. Glad he did. Not sure of the Danhausen stuff but it’s silly enough. Swerve/Garcia was fun. Glad we got a dance-off. The table spot messing up made the match better, I think — it felt more out of control. We definitely don’t need Hangman and Swerve again. Nice weird show. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 didn't we have a multiman match a few weeks ago with Trent winning a TNT title shot on one of the shows where they aired Rampage and Collision on the same night 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AxB Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 That's Trent's level in AEW. He's good enough to be the title challenger, he's not good enough to be the champion. Right from the first few Dynamites, when Best Friends failed to become the first AEW Tag Champions. He can get to the big match, but he can't win it, not when there's a belt on the line. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 okay wait, different matches November 17th: AEW TNT Title #1 Contendership Four Way: Trent Beretta defeats Brian Cage and Komander and Penta El Zero Miedo (10:34) January 3rd: AEW Continental Title / NJPW STRONG Openweight Title / ROH World Title Eliminator Four Way: Trent Beretta defeats Brian Cage and Bryan Keith and El Hijo del Vikingo (9:40) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) It is exhausting actively disliking Swerve, Hangman, and Takeshita because they all are crummy at putting matches together, guys, let me tell you. They all have their skills and positives and to be completely honest, I'd probably be able to just focus on those and appreciate them as cogs in machines when against better opponents, but the online reaction to all three just gives me a headache, and Takeshita is the worst of the three in that regard. Darby can usually get a good match out of guys with major structural issues though so I'm only slightly dreading watching it tomorrow. (Trent's not great at it either for what it's worth). Edited January 4 by Matt D 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 lemme put a summary of Darby/Takeshita in spoilers for Matt's benefit Spoiler Takeshita worked the match like he read Darby's journal about all the ways he dies in dreams 1 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Death From Above Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Adam Cole threatening to have Warldow win the title then just forfeit it to him is the stuff of nightmares, isn't one angle where the gimmick is "wrestler is made to look like a stupid bitch by his manager" enough? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) I'm thinking the Cole/Wardlow thing, if it somehow gets that far, is just gonna end up being a reprise of Batista/HHH instead of Christian/Killdozer It probably won't get that far. edit: oh boy... a scenario where face Wardlow and face MJF are reluctant tag team partners in a few months Edited January 4 by Cobra Commander 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt McGirt Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 33 minutes ago, Matt D said: I'm only slightly dreading watching it tomorrow https://vxtwitter.com/aew/status/1742732551893000577 Maybe not now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamBroken Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 The Virtuosa is ALL Elite! Automatic great show in my book, one of my all time favorites. Sad to see her gone from Impact but thrilled to see her in AEW. Awesome 1-2 punch of Mariah's in-ring debut followed by Deonna's surprise debut. Takeshita/Darby ruled. The german suplex violence just kept escalating, culminating with the top rope version. Felt like it had been a little while since a Takeshita singles showcase, this was excellent. 4 way was fun. Was rooting for BK but another 4 way win for Trent. Also dug Brian Cage's Streets of Rage gear, that was cool. Fantastic main event with both looking great, lots of nice near falls. Liked Hangman showing up and saying he was just going to beat some ass. Love the Hangman/Swerve rivalry. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go2Sleep Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Good Dynamite. Reset shows are AEW's best shows. Opening promo was a bit long and didn't like Cole/Wardlow doing the exact same thing as Christian/Luchasaurus, but we got a brief glimpse of fiery babyface Jay White before settling on tweener BCG. 3-way feud for the trios belts finally gives the Acclaimed something meaningful to do. May/Aminata was fine although Aminata came across as a bit more of a star in the ring. Good to see Deonna on board. Darby/Takeshita ruled. Darby really is AEW, and the shows have missed him. The 4-way was the classic "playing SVR with your friends and all agreeing to pick random" AEW match. I hope they find something for Bryan Keith to do besides trying to set the record for how many midcard titles he can be a filler challenger for. Main was good and both guys worked through the botch nicely. I like pissed off Hangman, but I think it's too soon to go back to Swerve. Hopefully they're just fighting because they love to fight tonight and they go their separate ways soon. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 5 hours ago, Go2Sleep said: Opening promo was a bit long and didn't like Cole/Wardlow doing the exact same thing as Christian/Luchasaurus Credit to Cole for leaving the catch phrases behind. The promo was fine on 2x speed. My bigger issue is that Khan recycled the intro of the Firm, mentioning the belts everyone wanted. My read is that Wardlow feels like he’s using Cole and Cole feels like he’s using Wardlow which is the opposite of what Cole/MJF was supposed to be, so it kind of works 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
For Great Justice Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 8 hours ago, Cobra Commander said: edit: oh boy... a scenario where face Wardlow and face MJF are reluctant tag team partners in a few months Now there’s a team that needs to wear half cut tee shirts and finish matches with the powerplex 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLowe Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Bryan Keith was booked for the main event of the Inspire AD (Austin indie he’s worked before, where Ricky Starks got his start so not just a fly-by-night) next weekend and was pulled earlier this week, which makes me think he’s probably signed with ROH/AEW. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt McGirt Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Yeah, I'm thinking Wardlow turns on Cole. If they're dumb enough to give him the belt. "What, do you think I'm as stupid as freakin' Luchasaurus?" In any case he'll be giving the symphony to Cole in a couple months. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steventon Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) Cole treating Wardlow the same way MJF treated him has to be a rib right? How many times can guys ask Wardy to win a title for them? Dude would have to be the biggest geek in a faction full of geeks to go along with that. Not a fan of Hangman vs Swerve re-igniting so soon, though I did laugh at Hangman turning up the show suitcase in hand 20 minutes before the end. Where was he? This feels like a potential triple threat or fatal four-way brewing with these two, Joe and maybe Wardlow? The tease of a babyface Jay White was neat. Darby vs Takeshita was a banger. Darby is the best out there at matching around dudes crashing and burning and I am here for Takeshita - suplex machine. Edited January 4 by Steventon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technico Support Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) Random notes: It wouldn't be AEW TV without a random audio botch. Good to see Quen back, though. Orange/Dante was really good. Really, just great in-ring all night. Will anyone care when Luchasaurus decides to break free? And good lord, don't also build Wardlow to that. Luchasaurus is not Batista and we already had a "Wardlow breaks free" angle that got fumbled for various reasons. Hangman grew his mustache thicker and now looks like a cowboy in a 70s porno. Great move switching up Cole's music. He's a heel now and having the fans still sing along would be dumb. Looking forward to seeing Purazzo in the mix. Bryan Keith didn't get an entrance and that sucks. DANCEOFF BRO For a split second I envisioned Garcia joining the Embassy and dancing on the ramp with Nana as Swerve made his entrance. Falling off the table with the sharpshooter was brutal. Fuck the fans who think it's still the late 90s and chanting "you fucked up" is cool. Hangman/Swerve is fine, but where do you go after a Texas Death Match? I know if it was WWE where feuds run backwards, we'd get a straight wrestling match, but not here, right? Edited January 4 by Technico Support 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuntmanCrowley Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Im probably the only one who wants AEW to do a no rope barbed wire match with Swerve/Hangman. It's feasibly the only real violent path left? I've read rumors about a cage match, but i think if they wanted to do a cage, they should've done that second. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarrie Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 59 minutes ago, Curt McGirt said: Yeah, I'm thinking Wardlow turns on Cole. If they're dumb enough to give him the belt. "What, do you think I'm as stupid as freakin' Luchasaurus?" 38 minutes ago, Steventon said: Cole treating Wardlow the same way MJF treated him has to be a rib right? How many times can guys ask Wardy to win a title for them? Dude would have to be the biggest geek in a faction full of geeks to go along with that. I agree with Curt. I'm not sure what the expression on Wardlow's face after Cole said that was precisely, but it didn't look to me like "I'm fine with that.". 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Natural Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 (edited) Wrong thread. Nothing to see here ;). Edited January 4 by The Natural Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 13 minutes ago, StuntmanCrowley said: I've read rumors about a cage match A Texas Deathmatch in a cage would be interesting if they didn’t already do a Texas Deathmatch. Hell, get a steel cage without a door and with a roof and call it a Roadhouse match? Two men enter and the only way out is for the match to end? Probably can’t get one of those cages on short demand. Or maybe a no ropes cage match. Whatever Fortunately there is more of a logical reason from the last Swerve/Page match for the rematch to be in a cage than the whole “Edge/Christian No DQ rematch” when the first match ended due to cheating 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godfrey Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 I thought they swapped out Page/Swerve 3 for Lee/Swerve at World's End because they wanted to keep Swerve hot and didn't want Page to lose again. I guess Swerve could go 3 and 0? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 I gotta say, at least for me, they pretty much threaded the needle with Cole being the Devil. It’s still the most milquetoast option, but it works. I liked the sort of mission statement Cole gave and he wasn’t necessarily wrong. From my memory, everything pretty much lines up so he seems justified in his actions. The only sticking point is the expectation that Wardlow will beat Joe and just hand over the title when Cole is healthy. At the same time, AEW has never gone with a HHH-esque heel that is always right and always outsmarts the babyface so I’m totally fine with the eventual abuse Wardlow will receive for not winning the title or if he does eventually win it, not giving it to Cole. It does really put Wardlow in this Sting like corner where he’s just too dumb to know when he’s being used. For the love of Christ, put more than 1 women’s segment on the show. The tag team division feels Moneyball as fuck right now. Can we just have the tag division run by FTR, the Bucks, KotBT/HoB, and a couple others? No disrespect to Private Party, but they’ll never be ready for a top spot as long as a team like Street Profits exist. Same goes for the Trios titles. Seems like the Acclaimed are just holding those things hostage. OC vs Martin ruled and I loved that main event even if I’m a little weary of running Swerve/Hangman 3. Those guys can be mortal enemies, but each guy should be going for a separate title at this point. The only other option is the boring wrestling trope of putting enemies together in a tag team, which they just did with MJF and Cole AND Kenny and Jericho. So I almost feel like that’s the direction here just because TK has a habit of booking similar storylines at the same time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 10 minutes ago, Cobra Commander said: A Texas Deathmatch in a cage would be interesting if they didn’t already do a Texas Deathmatch. Hell, get a steel cage without a door and with a roof and call it a Roadhouse match? Two men enter and the only way out is for the match to end? Probably can’t get one of those cages on short demand. Or maybe a no ropes cage match. Whatever Fortunately there is more of a logical reason from the last Swerve/Page match for the rematch to be in a cage than the whole “Edge/Christian No DQ rematch” when the first match ended due to cheating It’ll either be a cage match or a parking lot brawl if they don’t go the enemies as tag partners route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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